The first floor retail space at 425 7th St NW (1st floor of the Clara Barton/Lafayette building) is confirmed to become a Staples office supply store. On 3/28/08, the Historic Preservation Office approved signage for the new store.

We realize that Staples is the sacrificial lamb here because any other store (other than a grocery store) would receive the same response of shock/disbelief. There is a lot of emotional attachment to that space for PQ residents – a space that was designed to house our neighborhood grocery store.

Comments

JPI, developer of the Clara Barton/Lafayette was required by the city to market the space to a grocer for 5 years. They actually had a signed agreement with Balduccis at one point but as we can all see the deal never came to fruition. Safeway will be here in September and all will be fine!

Whine whine whine. This city used to have minimal grocery stores. And now one is opening a few blocks away. Quit your complaining, get some exercise and walk over there. Did you actually expect a grocer to open at that storefront on 7th st? One would open 2 blocks away and everyone would still be moaning and groaning.

Most NYC neighborhoods are served by smaller corner stores not Wholefoods. Maybe we should approach the Korean/asian owned convenience stores (many who focus on alcohol and snacks) to stock some basics. The store on 8th and D NW is the same size as many Manhattan corner stores. Hundreds of res units within blocks but they close on weekends.

#49- I couldn’t have said it better myself. I live in Mt. Vernon Square north of NY Ave., but consider “my neighborhood” to extend down 7th to Penn Ave, and I walk that stretch all the time. This idea that you need a grocery store in each of the subdivided neighborhoods that were really only invented by realtors in the past couple years, and that walking from one to the next is unacceptable, just makes me shake my head.

#53- Great point. If we could get some of the abundance of corner liquor stores to stock basics or some produce a la NYC, that would be a boon to all our “neighborhoods.”

I disagree that this is all about capitalism. Without some sort of regulation, we’d have a bank or a liquor store on every corner. There’s nothing wrong with the city working to get residents the right mix of retail. That’s partly how we got Bruegger’s. That space was designated for food/bakery.

My biggest problem with Staples is that they won’t be open on weekends. I find that really unacceptable for such a prominent space in our neighborhood. After leasing such great 7th Street spaces to Commerce Bank and Staples, I have to say I am very disappointed with Doug Jemal’s commitment to retail downtown. Any chance we can get him to a DNA meeting?

Andy – I share your disappointment regarding Staples, but do you really think that without regulation there would be a liquor store on every corner? Are there that many drunks in the neighborhood? I sincerely doubt it.

Yes, the city can help shape a neighborhood through zoning, developer agreements, and/or tax incentives. However, the city can’t force stores to locate in PQ.

If a store, whether it’s Balducci’s or Bruegger’s, projects a money-losing venture (and they will include any tax and other financial incentives in their analysis), they are not going to open a store. These are for-profit businesses, not charities. It really is that simple.

Ok, maybe not liquor stores (though we could use a nice wine store). Without some sort of regulation, I do think we would be overrun by banks and national chains that can give the developers the long-term leases and high rents they want.

I’m not saying the city should force businesses to locate downtown, I am saying that the city should be a bit more aggressive about bringing residential amenities to the neighborhood. There were some grocery stores that were interested in the Balducci’s space, but they couldn’t afford the inflated rents (which had risen sharply after Balducci’s dropped the space). I understand that the market plays a role in the rent, but from my understanding, the developer was permitted to build the Jefferson and the Clara Barton at that scale only because they agreed to house certain amenities on the ground floor (namely a grocer).

On the staples closing on the weekend, I was referring to the comments above. Perhaps I misread. If it’s not true, I am happily mistaken.

According to conversation today with one fairly in the know source, Staples was serious but its not a certainty bc the space is not a great fit. Other parties more to our liking are looking at financing and costs to finish out space but as we have learned, final decisions could be weeks or more away.

Maybe with all the good announced restaurant and retail openings lately, potential tenants are reconsidering that space.

If we could get a few more art studio people and professional services and law firms to move into the neighborhood (instead of govmt employees who might tend to eat in their own cafeterias) the daytime population will skew more to nonchain and more choices in retail.